Friday

Towable builder EverGreen Recreational Vehicles LLC will be introducing several new floorplans, decors and innovations during a Sept. 18-20 dealer open house along Executive Pkwy. near the RV/MH Hall of Fame.

Running in conjunction with the 5th Annual Elkhart County RV Open House, EverGreen will be displaying products from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to showing product, EverGreen will be hosting a hog roast on Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

“The New EverGreen is all about preserving the legacy elements that have shaped and built the EverGreen brand, such as durability, quality construction practices and lightweight, easy-to-tow travel trailers and fifth-wheel brands,” said EverGreen President Mark Boessler. “It is also about keeping pace with what our dealers and customers want – the best products at the best price. I am confident that based on our nationwide dealer input, we will be releasing products at our open house that will surely impress both our dealers and retail customers.”

Planned introductions include:

• Bay Hill – Being unveiled for the first time, the new fifth-wheel line features some “must-see industry-first innovations,” according to EverGreen.

Thursday

August
29th, 2012 (Elkhart, IN) - Thor Motor Coach, North America’s best selling motorhome brand has
appointed Nicole Short to the position of Director of Customer Service. Short’s responsibilities will include the day-to-day
activities of both their Customer Care and Parts Fulfillment Departments.

Ron Davidson, Thor Motor Coach’s Vice President of
Operations and Customer Service commented, “I am elated to promote Nicole to
this position. She has the knowledge and
skill set to continue our overwhelming story of success in customer service.
With Nicole taking over the day-to-day activities, we are even better equipped
to make sure ownership of a Thor Motor Coach continues to result in the best overall
customer experience.”

Davidson added, "The elements of Thor Motor Coach’s industry
unique “Shield of Protection” will continue to be
an integral part of the service provided.”

24/7 Factory Direct Support…because service is
not just a 9 to 5 job

Concierge Connection…personal attention
right from the factory, every customer every time

Gold Star Inspections…unprecedented 200+
point quality inspection

Rapid
Response…stocking the necessary parts to get you back on the road
quickly

Monday

EverGreen Recreational Vehicle LLC’s latest reported figures from Coach-Net show that it is among the lowest in terms of utilization rates of the RV roadside assistance service, according to a press release.

“This means that EverGreen, as a manufacturer, has a documented low rate of usage of our two main services, which are technical phone assistance and dispatch services for RV owners who are having trouble or breakdowns with their coach or tow vehicle,” said Dan Lopez, vice president of sales and business development for National Motor Club and its suite of RV products and services offered under the Coach-Net brand.

A year of Coach-Net roadside assistance and technical support services is included in the purchase of all new EverGreen fifth-wheel and travel trailer products, including the Element, Ever-Lite, Ever-Lite Select, Ascend and i-Go fifth-wheels and travel trailers.

“These reports confirm that our products are well built and durable,” said Doug Lantz, EverGreen’s vice president of sales and marketing. “Each travel trailer and fifth-wheel is constructed to pass a rigorous 100-point testing system that includes rain booth, cabin pressure, gas systems and electrical systems testing.

“Our commitment toward creating a high quality product enables EverGreen RV owners to spend more time camping and less time at the dealer or service center getting work done on their coach, or worse yet – stranded out on the road.”

Elkhart, Indiana (August 14th,
2012) – Top Motorhome Manufacturer, Thor Motor Coachannounces the launch of the revolutionary 37GT to their Challenger
line of premium gas-powered Class A Motor Homes. With the most innovative kitchen design ever
for a motorhome, the 2013 Challenger 37GT model offers consumers a ground-breaking
island kitchen with massive countertop spaces. Continuing the trend of modern and
intelligent design, the overhead storage throughout the kitchen is multi-functional
with a wine rack that includes hanging glass storage.

The luxurious 38 foot Challenger 37GT has an
elongated sofa with kick-up footrest which provides the perfect place to just
sit back and relax. Additional seating is provided
by the swiveling captain’s chairs, and everyone gets a great view of the hide-away
retractable 32” LCD TV. The free standing buffet dinette provides a grand view of the campsite under the patio awning, while keeping that “open concept”throughout the
coach.

Storage space is the primaryfocus in the bath and bedroom areas, but the little things are what set
the 37GT apart from the pack. His and Her vanities, a full length “dressing” mirror and stackable washer/dryer prep all come
standard.

“The size of the kitchen sets this
floorplan apart.It feels big and if you
like to entertain, this is the Class A RV for you”, responded Joel Grimm,
National Sales Manager for gas motorhomes.

Norfolk,
VA – August 13, 2012 – Nearly 40,000 RV enthusiasts entered a national contest
earlier this year for a chance to win a 2012 Jayco White Hawk Ultra Lite Travel
Trailer. The promotion was sponsored by four RV industry leaders, and the
winner of the White Hawk, valued at approximately $20,000, is Victoria Turner
of Chesapeake, VA. The travel trailer will be presented to Ms. Turner on August
16, 2012, at Dixie RV in Newport News, Virginia.

To
register for the promotion, RV enthusiasts submitted a form at www.winawhitehawk.com. In addition to the 2012
Jayco White Hawk Grand Prize, there were also weekly winners of a free annual
membership to the ROUTE 66 RV Club.

RV
Trader, a division of Dominion Enterprises based in Norfolk, VA, was one of the
participating sponsors. According to Tim Custer, general manager of RV Trader,
“We were thrilled to learn that the winner of this national promotion was a
resident of the Mid-Atlantic region! We truly enjoyed working with all of the
partners of this promotion and hope to have similar giveaways in the future.”

Ms.
Turner, the winner of the new White Hawk, shared her own excitement about the
promotion. “I am still very overwhelmed that I have won, but I am excited as
well. I grew up RV’ing with my family in a mini-home. I have such fond memories
of those times, and I never thought I would have a chance to share that with my
own family. I always enjoyed the hours traveling to our campsite and then
setting up, having a campfire and exploring. I am excited to be able to
share the joy of RVing with my kids and husband. I look forward to receiving
the White Hawk and making memories with them!”

The
presentation of the White Hawk will be held on August 16 at Dixie RV (www.dixiervsuperstore.com)
at 11963 Jefferson Avenue in Newport News, VA. The sponsors of this promotion
include: Jayco, a leading RV manufacturer; RV Trader, the #1 RV Internet
classifieds site; RV America Insurance, a top quality RV insurance provider;
and the ROUTE 66 RV Club, a national travel club for RV’ers.

To
learn more about new promotions from these industry partners, sign up for
future promotion announcements at www.winawhitehawk.com.

About
RV Trader

RV
Trader.com is a division of Dominion Enterprises, a leading marketing services
and publishing company serving the automotive, recreational and commercial
vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, employment, parenting, travel, and
daily deals industries. The company’s businesses provide a comprehensive suite
of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead
generation, CRM, website design and hosting, and data management services. The
company has more than 60 market-leading websites reaching more than 20.9
million unique visitors monthly, and more than 280 magazines with a weekly
circulation of 2.4 million. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., the company has
3,300 employees in more than 186 offices in the United States, Canada, England
and Italy. For more information, visit www.DominionEnterprises.com.

Tuesday

So you’re looking for a deal on a RV, eh? Well unfortunately, the cruel game of cat-and-mouse which is
RV shopping can often lead to missed opportunities followed by heartache for
many.

Thankfully, there is a remedy for such an ailment – The Internet.

The Internet is a valuable resource when it comes to shopping
for an RV.For some, unfamiliarity not
only with the World Wide Web, but how to use the Internet as a whole, can be
disheartening. This unfamiliarity in turn leads to frustration and confusion
which can be a lethal combination when trying to shop online.

Think about it. You can shop for any RV in the world, from
pretty much anywhere in the world, and you can do it right from the comfort of
your home. The best part is the only thing you need is a computer and an
Internet connection.

So what’s the main advantage of shopping for an RV online?
Well essentially, you can know exactly what kind of RV you want to buy before
even stepping foot on a dealership’s lot. You can know everything about an RV you’re
interested in before a sales specialists can say, “How are we doing today
folks?” But most importantly, you go into a possible purchasing situation more
confident because you’re better informed about what you’re looking for.

Considering all of this, I’ve never been one to put the cart
before the horse so let’s start from the very beginning when it comes to the
art of buying an RV online.

The Search

Regardless of who you are, most will start their search for
an RV by using a search engine. The search engines aren’t the only place you can begin your
quest for finding an RV, however. There are also a slew of other valuable
resources, like online RV classified sites such as RVTrader.com. All of these can
deliver a slew of RV options right to your computer screen. Got a particular RV
you’re already interested in? Just type the name in the search box and hit
enter.

Don’t forget when you’re in the search phase, all you’re
doing is looking. There is no pressure!All you’re doing is simply gathering any and all information about an RV
you’re interested in.You’re free to
explore any and all RV options swimming out in the sea of dealer sites on the
World Wide Web and the best part is it will only take a few mouse-clicks to do
so.

The Inventory

Ever go to a dealer’s website and somewhere on their
homepage they boast some crazy pitch, like having “More than 500 RVs on the
Lot!”, only to later find they actually have less than a 100 in their
inventory? I have and I can tell you it’s incredibly annoying and
frustrating.

The way a dealer has their inventory organized on a website
says a lot. Before deciding to buy, these are just a few things to consider:

-The info:
Is the information in the RV listing correct? Most dealers, at least the good
ones, include a list of basic specifications for RV units including length,
height, gross weight and more with their listings. With that said, human error
is still always a possibility so it’s always good to double check a floor plan
you’re looking at with the manufacturer’s website.After all, the last thing you want to do is make
a long trip to a dealership in another state, only to find the RV you‘re
interested in isn’t what you thought it was.

-The
Photos: Does the listing have enough photos to adequately display the “ins”
and “out” of the RV? For example, 10 photos of a Class A motorhome isn’t a good
representation of such a luxurious unit. Most good dealers who are trying to
develop a strong Internet presence make it a point to add as many photos of
possible of every RV in their stock – the more the better. This is especially true when it comes to a
used RV listing. If a dealer displays a ton of photos for an RV, then it shows
they’re trying to be as upfront as possible with their online customers about
the condition of it.

-The Video:These days, most dealers have made it a point
to include some sort of video walkthrough with each of their inventory
listings. Some dealerships even go as far as to providing a video walkthrough
which parallels the same walkthrough they would receive had they visited the
dealership in person.Additionally, the
quality of the video (camera shots, accuracy of information presented, etc.)
should also be considered.

The Wrap-Up

When it comes down to it, there really is no right or wrong
way to do things when it comes to shopping online. With so many valuable
resources, from dealer websites to classified websites, finding exactly what
you’re looking for has never been easier thanks to the Internet.

The only mistake an RV shopper can make is by choosing not
to take advantage of it.

Author Bio:Darrin Michael currently serves as the eCommerce/Marketing Director at DaveArbogast RV Depot in Troy, Ohio.
In addition, he also teaches Internet
Development at Edison Community
College.He’s been featured on a
number of other industry related blogs including Woodalls, RV-Pro.com, DealerRefresh.com and more.

The murphy bed floorplan
found in the Unity U24MB (by Leisure Travel Vans) and Regency GT24MB (by Triple
E RV) allows for a very unique layout, offering features not typically found in
a compact 24’ Class B+ motorhome. These benefits include a walk-around murphy
bed up to 60” x 80” and a grand and spacious three-piece bathroom including a
large, enclosed stand-up shower.

During the day, the Unity
offers either a comfortable u-lounge dinette or reclining theatre seats where
the murphy bed folds down in the slide. The GT24MB comes standard with the
u-lounge. Setting up the murphy bed is a breeze, and can be accomplished in a
matter of seconds, even allowing you to leave your bedding in place for quicker
setup and takedown.

The functional design of the
murphy bed floorplan offers the user the best of both worlds. By freeing up the
rear of the coach, where typically the bed would be found, the Unity/GT offers
an incredibly spacious bathroom with ample storage. All of these innovative features
make for a very livable RV, which functions much more like a larger coach than
it does a compact, easy-to-drive 24’ Class B+.

Winkler,
Manitoba, August 3, 2012, Triple E Recreational Vehicles, a leading Canadian
Recreational Vehicle manufacturer, today announced the launch of the
single-slide Class B Motorhome based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. The
all-new Leisure Travel Van Free Spirit SS is the industry’s first Sprinter van
with a full, roadside slide-out.

Designed
in conjunction with a German aerospace engineer, Leisure Travel Vans (LTV) is
excited to introduce a revolutionary new Class B motorhome built on the
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. Traditionally, RV’s built on the Sprinter van have
had limited floor plan designs, due to the confined space of the compact van.
However, the Free Spirit SS’s large slide-out allows for a very unique floor
plan, taking on similar characteristics to the company’s larger Unity Class B+
model.

Stepping
into the Free Spirit SS, you will immediately be impressed by how open the front
living area feels. The slide-out is situated behind the driver’s seat, directly
across from the sliding entry door. A fold-down sofa bed topped in memory foam
is located in the slide out, which conveniently converts to a bed at night.
Moving towards the rear, the European-inspired galley is equipped with gorgeous
cabinetry, Corian® countertops and quality appliances. Across from the galley
on the driver’s side is a wall of ample storage space. From a hanging wardrobe
to full size drawers, it is apparent this RV was not just designed for short
weekend trips but can easily handle longer, extended vacations.

The
best is saved for last. Almost unheard of in the Class B van industry, the Free
Spirit SS is fitted with a large three-piece dry bathroom equipped with a
porcelain toilet, a dedicated and spacious shower, and vanity.

“It’s
incredible how spacious the Free Spirit SS feels inside,” claims General
Manager Ryan Elias. “It really doesn’t feel as though you are in a van. It has
a very open feel to it, much more like a wide-body Class B+. Because of the
SS’s unique layout, we believe this product will appeal not only to customers
looking for a Class B van, but also to people who are looking for something
slightly larger, with a little more room.”

Other
notable features include an innovative full width sliding screen door allowing
for open air living while keeping the bugs out, and a large storage compartment
accessible from the van’s rear access doors. Golfers can be rest assured there
is ample room for two golf bags with room to spare in the rear storage area.
Technological features include a 22” LED TV mounted on a swing-out arm for
interior/exterior viewing, a 7” in-dash Sony® GPS, back-up camera with
Bluetooth/iPod/USB connections, dimmable LED lighting and more.

LTV's
reputation for the highest quality craftsmanship and premium finishes is
clearly evident in the Free Spirit SS. Beautifully crafted European styled
curved wood cabinetry, sleek modern Ultraleather™, and Corian®
Private Collection Counter tops are featured throughout the coach.

With
an estimated 19-22 MPG and a spacious floor plan to boot, the Free Spirit SS is
the perfect touring coach for those extended trips.

Starting
at $119,470 USD / $124,241 CAD, the Free Spirit SS offers buyers looking for
the features and conveniences of a larger Class B+ motorhome in a compact, easy
to drive van.

The
Free Spirit SS will be featured at America’s Largest RV Show in Hershey, PA
from September 12-16, and then at the California RV Show in Pomona, CA from
October 12-21.